Improvement in water-locomotives



hnded gime GEORGEA. FALL, OE HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

Laim Patent No. 95,785, dated 00am 12, 1869.

d IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-LOCOMOTIVES.

The Schedule referred tb in these Letters Patent Aand. making part of the same.

To all Iwhom, it ma/y conce/rn Be it known that I, GEORGE A. FALL, of Hoboken, in the county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented and made a new and useful Improvement in Water-Locomotives and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the said' invention, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making part of this speciticatiomwherein- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the said locomotive, and v Figure 2 is a plan of the same, with "a portieri of one lloat shown sectionally. Y

Similar marksof reference denote the same parts.

This invention is designed as a pleasure and exercise-vessel,.for moderately smooth water, whereby one or'more persons can give a direct forward propulsion to the vessel, or can steer the same with ease, regardless-of any rudder'.

My invention consists'iu arranging two cranks opposite to each other, so that they can be rotated separately, or united by a slip-tube, and combining, with these cranks, pulleys and bauds, leading to circular floating paddles, that support alight and strongly braced platform for the party or parties operating the locomotive.

By this construction, the two cranks can be rotated simultaneously by one or more persons, when united bythe slip-tube, or one can be turned faster than the other, or inna reverse direction, so as to steer, the sliptube of the cranks being disconnected.

.In the drawing- I a. a b-b are circular floats, each'being made with a double-inclined periphery, as seen in the sectiomat c, the shape being that of two couic frusta, with the bases placed together.

These floats may be entirely closed at the sides, or only in the ring-shape, as shown, and provided with arms extending to the hubs.

The hubs ofthe floats revolve upon the Afixed shafts v d and e, that are sustained by or connected with the platform f.

This platform f is sti-lened and braced by the up right-s g, side braces h h, lower braces k k, and crossframe l, and transverse braces, to the bars m, that unite the outer ends of the shafts d e, so thatthe vent the saine slipping upon the pulleys.

frame becomes very strong, and braced inl alldirections.

Each of the uprights g is made double, so as to receive between the parts the driving-wheels p p', the peripheries of which are grooved for the bands or belts i, that are led, as shown in fig. 1, each belt passing almost around the pulley or wheelV 10.0121)', thence around the pulleys fr or s, on the hubs of the respective paddle-oats, the endlessband extending from one pulley to the other, on the same side, and over the tightener u, that operates byA a spring or weight, to keep the proper tension on the belt or baud, and pre- This tightener is fitted with a lever-arm running out on the platform, so that the foot can be' applied to loosen the belt, and allow the wheel to turn without the paddle. The wheels p p have cranks t t', extending out from their respective axes, so that either one can be rotated in either direction, and the paddle-iloats revolved ac cordingly, and tlrese cranks face each other, so that the slip-tube c can be applied over said cranks, in order that the'two may be moved together in giving a forward propulsion to the locomotive. The cranks might be made of tubes, and a bar be slipped in saidv tubes.

This apparatus is especially designed for pleasure and exercise in smooth water, and a protection, of canvas or other material, may be applied around the platform, to protect the person from being splashed by the Water, and an awning may be employed over the A platform.

What I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The arrangement of four paddle-floats, with inclined surfaces, sustaining the braced platform, in

combination-with the bands and driving-pulleys, and

the cranks and slip-pipe, substantiallyl as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof, I have Vhereunto set my signature, this 30th day of J une, A. D. 1869.

GEORGE A. FALL.

Witnesses GHAs. H. SMITH, Guo. T. PINCKNEY. 

